The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 25 May 1916, Page 3

The War News.

THE WEEK'S

SUMMARY.

FRIDAY

Austrian Offensive — 300,000 Men Concentrated — New Board of Aviation — Naval Skirmish off Belgium.

The Austrian offensive against the Italian positions south of Trent has assumed formidable proportions. It is said to be engaging 300,000 Austrians, and is interpreted as an attempt to reach the Venetian Plain. The arrival of Turkish reinforcements in Armenia are still unable to stop the Russian Jk.advarice. Two parties of Seaforth Highlanders raided German trenches on Tuesday night, and bombed three dug-outs.

Two squadrons of French aeroplanes dropped bombs on important points behind the enemy's lines north of Verdun, round Metz, and in the Argonne.

There was a skirmish between British and German destroyers off the Belgian coast on Tuesday afternoon. The enemy's destroyers were driven to their ports. A German mine-layer has been blown up south of Sweden.

The Royal Commission on the Sinn Fein rebellion is about to hold its first sitting. The State will make grants in respect of damage by burning and looting at Dublin, Mr Asquith has been sworn in as an Irish Privy Councillor, thereby lending colour to the suggestion that for the meantime he will become responsible for Irish affairs.

SATURDAY

Serviug in Two Fields—News of New Zealanders — Successful Action in Egypt — Submarines QOperating in Baltic.

The New Zealand sector of the western front is at present comparatively" quiet. Before going into the trenches the New Zealanders received instruction in the latest phases of trench warfare, and were given experience in meeting poisonous gas, tear-producing gas, and flame projectors.

A column of Australian and New Zealand mounted troops has been in action against the enemy in Egypt. They routed the enemy, and destroyed his camp, capturing camels and ammunition. .

The Italians have repulsed five most violent Austrian attacks in the Lagarino Valley, south of Trent, inflicting heavy losses.

With the opening of the Baltic the winter allied submarines are again busy. Three German steamers have been sunk, either by Russian or British craft,

. One Hundred British and 963 Indian officers and men, representing the sick of the Kut-el-Amara garrison, have arrived at the British headquarters in Mesopotamia in exchange for Turkish prisoners. They state that all the horses and males were eaten before the surrender. The men were so weak that they could not carry their kits.

MONDAY,

Battle in Trentino—Fierce Austrian

Attacks—Seaplane Raid on KentOne Machine Brought DownAttack on the Turks.

The continuation of the Austrian offensive has forced the Italians to evacuate certain advanced positions about 18 miles south of Trent, on the right bank of the River Adige, but they have nowhere been displaced from their principal positions, and have taken heavy toll of the enemy.

It is stated that 20,000 fresh ---troops have been sent to La Bassee. A German attempt to cross the Yser Canal failed. Details of the storming of the craters on Vimy ridge, five miles north-east of Arras, show that the Lancashire Fusiliers attacked after the explosion of two great mines. So affecting were the cries of mutilated and imprisoned Germans that the British offered the enemy a truce to enable them to rescue their wounded. Three hostile seaplanes raided the east coast of Kent, bombing the Isle of Thanet and seveial towns. The casualties were one soldier killed and two persons injured. One of the raiders was brought down by the British naval patrol off Belgium. German aeroplanes bombarded Dunkirk and Bergues. In retaliation, French and Belgian squadrons bombed enemy cantonments and an aerodrome in Flanders. British warships and aeroplanes bombarded El Arish, a point on the caravan route from Syria to Egypt. The warships reduced the.fort to ruins, and the aeroplanes bombed the enemy's camp and troops on the march.

TUESDAY

Russians Meet British. — Junction on the Tigris — Three Enemy Offensives—Russians Repulse an Attack—French Recapture their Trenches.

After a bold ride Russian cavalry have effected a junction with the British forces on the Tigris below Kut-el-Amara. The British army in this region has made an advance.

The Germans attempted to take the offensive north-west of Dvinsk, but were, repulsed by the Russians with heavy losses.

It is reported from Copenhagen that the German battle-cruiser fleet is on the way to the Gulf of Riga.

A semi-official Italian statement describes the Austrian claims of successes in the Trentino as the inevitable progress in a first offensive, and affirms that all the Austrian attacks have been broken, and that the enemy has suffered cruel and heavy losses. The Austrian casualties in three days are given as 23,000.

A violent struggle is raging in several sectors of the Verdun front. The French have captured trenches in the vicinity of the Esnes-Haucourt Koad, west of the Meuse, and the Haudromont quarries, east of the river.

Two hostile aeroplanes dropped 16 bombs on Port Said before they were driven off by the antiaircraft artillery.

The activities of British and Russian-submarines in the Baltic have stopped trade between Sweden and Germany.

WEDNESDAY

New Battle of Verdun — Fierce Fighting Renewed—French make Several Gains —German Attack on Vimy Ridge

The fighting since Friday round Mort Horn me Hill, north-west of Verdun, has been of the most intense character. One attack which gained no ground cost the Germans over 5000 casualties. The advantage in recent fighting has been with the French, who have captured blockhouses in Avocourt Wood, and trenches west of Mort Homrne, on the outskirts of Vaux, on the heights of the Meuse, and near Fort Douaumont, which they penetrated.

The Italians are rallying splendidly against the Austrian offensive in the Tyrol, and are holding both wings firmly,

German attempts to assume the offensive north of Lake Narotch, which lies north and east of Vilna, were stopped by the Russians.